Differences Between Spyware & Adware

Spyware and adware are rogue applications or programs that have become as ubiquitous as spam in today's all-pervasive web-based work and entertainment environment. These freeware pose major security and privacy risks to your PC environment--apart from affecting the performance of key applications, programs and software loaded on your PC. A few years back, adware was considered a form or category of spyware, but some distinctive differences between the two have emerged in recent times.

Defining Spyware

In definitive terms, spyware is a program that once installed surreptitiously or without permission on a user's PC; it can monitor all activities, gather or assimilate information from a user's computer and pass on the information to a third party or creator of the spyware program.

Dangers About Spyware

Spyware is mostly a covert and deadly form of application or software that can be downloaded through various freeware and shareware applications or programs, web-based tools and even through simple transferring and mailing of files, attachments and emails. Spyware can also compromise the security of data and important information stored on your PC and violate your privacy on various fronts.

Defining Adware

Adware is an application or program that displays advertising on your computer, tracks your online or web surfing habits and user behavior characteristics, and reports back to outside parties or third-party vendors/creators.

Dangers About Adware

Adware in the form of advertising banners can be shown or downloaded legitimately on your web page displays based on your surfing habits, online profiles, likes and dislikes. This makes adware highly dangerous as known parties or entities might encourage you to download supposedly safe programs or harmless freeware, which might be detrimental to your overall PC security.

Install Relevant Internet Security Programs

There are many branded Internet Security programs available in the marketplace to protect your PC environment from the threats of spyware and adware. Choose from one of Norton 360, Kasperksy Internet Security, CA Internet Security Suite and McAfee Total Protection based on expert reviews posted on websites of mainstream PC magazines such as "PC World," "Computer Shopper" and "PC Magazine," or based on referrals from your friends.